Packaging movement assembly for an automatic packaging machine and method thereof

Abstract

A package movement assembly for an automatic packaging machine comprises a first trolley and a second trolley placed side by side and slidably movable along a packaging direction; a first gripping device and a second gripping device facing each other and between which a package to be moved can be positioned. The first gripping device and the second gripping device are mechanically mounted respectively on the first trolley and on the second trolley, and are movable along a direction substantially parallel to the packaging direction. Furthermore, the first trolley and the second trolley respectively comprise a vacuum pump, associated with the respective gripping device, in fluid connection with said plurality of gripping elements, and an electric motor mechanically connected to the vacuum pump and configured to actuate it.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package movement assembly for an automatic packaging machine, comprising:
 a first trolley and a second trolley placed side by side one another and slidably movable away from and/or towards each other along a packaging direction;   a first gripping device and a second gripping device facing each other and between which a package to be moved can be positioned;   the first gripping device and the second gripping device being configured to grip respective flaps of the package and open and/or close said flaps;   wherein the first gripping device and the second gripping device are mechanically mounted respectively on the first trolley and on the second trolley;   wherein the first gripping device and the second gripping device are movable along a direction substantially parallel to the packaging direction in such a way as to open and/or close the flaps of the package along the packaging direction; and   wherein the first trolley and the second trolley each comprise a plurality of gripping elements as well as:   a vacuum pump, associated with a respective gripping device, in fluid connection with the plurality of gripping elements, and configured to generate a depression at an active zone of each gripping element;   an electric motor mechanically connected to the vacuum pump and configured to actuate it;   a first power generator associated to the first trolley and a second power generator associated to the second trolley, the first power generator and the second power generator being adapted to generate a predeterminer predetermined amount of electric power;   a first reception element mounted on the first trolley and a second reception element mounted on the second trolley; and   connection elements configured to be reversibly engaged with the reception elements;   wherein the connection elements are movable by an actuator between a rest configuration in which the reception elements are distal from the connection elements, and an engagement configuration in which the reception elements are coupled with the connection elements to define a closed electrical circuit so as to command the first gripping device and the second gripping device.   
     
     
         2 . The movement assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first trolley and the second trolley are independently movable with respect to each other, and wherein the first trolley and the second trolley are actuatable along the packaging direction by means of an electromagnetic element. 
     
     
         3 . The movement assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each electrical power generator comprises:
 an electric cable extending substantially parallel to the packaging direction between the trolleys and configured to be crossed by a predefined flow of electric current;   a receiver mechanically mounted on each trolley, and adapted to produce an electric power by electromagnetic effect, the electric cable and the receiver of each trolley being operatively associated in such a way as to produce a predefined flow of electric current induced respectively on board the first trolley and the second trolley.   
     
     
         4 . The movement assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first gripping device and the second gripping device comprise respective adjustment elements configured to adjust the actuation of each gripping element independently with respect to other gripping elements. 
     
     
         5 . The movement assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each gripping element of the first gripping device is operatively associated with a corresponding gripping element of the second gripping device. 
     
     
         6 . The movement assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping elements are in fluid communication with each other, and are arranged mounted on the first and second gripping devices along a direction transverse to a packaging axis. 
     
     
         7 . The movement assembly of  claim 1 , comprising a first control unit and a second control unit which are operatively associated with the first gripping device and the second gripping device, and which are configured at least to activate a corresponding gripping device. 
     
     
         8 . The movement assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first control unit and the second control unit are connected to the respective electric motor and to the respective electric power generator,
 wherein the first trolley and the second trolley each comprise respective antennas operatively associated with the first control unit and the second control unit for sending command signals generated by a remote station with respect to the movement assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The movement assembly of  claim 8 , wherein each antenna is of a wireless type and configured to receive the command signals wirelessly. 
     
     
         10 . The movement assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connection element comprises at least one spring-loaded connector. 
     
     
         11 . The movement assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reception elements comprises a printed circuit board. 
     
     
         12 . The movement assembly of  claim 1 , comprising a first plate connected to the first trolley and a second plate connected to the second trolley, the first plate and the second plate each extending substantially orthogonal to the packaging direction so as to compartmentalize the package in a volume defined between the first trolley and the second trolley. 
     
     
         13 . A packaging machine comprising a sliding guide extending mainly along a packaging direction, comprising at least one package movement assembly for an automatic packaging machine, comprising:
 a first trolley and a second trolley placed side by side one another and slidably movable away from and/or towards each other along a packaging direction;   a first gripping device and a second gripping device facing each other and between which a package to be moved can be positioned;   the first gripping device and the second gripping device being configured to grip respective flaps of the package and at least open and/or close said flaps;   wherein the first gripping device and the second gripping device are mechanically mounted respectively on the first trolley and on the second trolley;   wherein the first gripping device and the second gripping device are movable along a direction substantially parallel to the packaging direction in such a way as to open and/or close the flaps of the package along the packaging direction; and   wherein the first trolley and the second trolley each comprise a plurality of gripping elements as well as:
 a vacuum pump, associated with a respective gripping device, in fluid connection with the plurality of gripping elements, and configured to generate a depression at an active zone of each gripping element; 
 an electric motor mechanically connected to the vacuum pump and configured to actuate it; 
 a first power generator associated to the first trolley and a second power generator associated to the second trolley, the first power generator and the second power generator being adapted to generate a predetermined amount of electric power; 
 a first reception element mounted on the first trolley and a second reception element mounted on the second trolley; and 
 connection elements configured to be reversibly engaged with the reception elements; 
   wherein the connection elements are movable by an actuator between a rest configuration in which the reception elements are distal from the connection elements, and an engagement configuration in which the reception elements are coupled with the connection elements to define a closed electrical circuit so as to command the first gripping device and the second gripping device.